Air starting mechanism for internal-combustion engines.



H. W. SUMNER. AIR STARTING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. I APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22. 19!]. 1,gfi%,9% Patented May 7,1918.

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AIR STARTING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGlNES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22. 1917.

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, 3 $HEETSSHEE H. W. SUMNER.

AIR STARTING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22 I9I7.

Patent-ed May 7,1918.

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HENRY W. SUMNER, OF WINSLOW, WASHING-TON.

AIR STARTING MECHANISM FOR, INTERNAL-GOMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 191%.

Application filed January 22, 1917. Serial No. 143,687.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY W. SUMNER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the town of Winslow, county of Kitsap, and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air Starting Mechanism for Internal-Combustion. Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for starting internal combustion engines by the use of compressed air. The object of my invention is to provide a mechanism for dis tributing the air to the various cylinders of an internal combustion engine having several cylinders, in such manner as to supply the air to the proper cylinders at the proper time, and a device of this character which may be reversed so as to turn the engine in either direction, as desired. The device, therefore, consists of an air starting mechanism for internal combustion engines combined with a reversing mechanism. The mechanisms by which I now prefer to carry out this invention, will be shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification; I am, however, well aware that they may be modified in details without departing from the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fourcylinder engine having my air starting and reversing mechanism applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the valve by which the air is distributed through the various cylinders of the engine, and by which reversal of the engine is also secured.

Fig. 3 is the same mechanism showing the casing in section, and the valve in side elevation.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section taken through the centrally placed distributing ports of the casing.

Fig. 6 shows a four-way valve which may be employed to advantage with the distributing valve.

In engines equipped with my air starting device it is presumed that a tank will be provided capable of holding air under pressure, and means for compressing air into such tank. The pressure of the air in this tank is relied upon for starting the engine, the air being supplied to the various cylinders at such a time that they may be used in the same manner as ordinary steam engine cylinders for starting the engine, the supply of fuel oil being provided to follow immediately the use of the air to thereby take up and continue the motion of the engine.

My device contains a distributing valve which is cylindrical and mounted to rotate in conformity to the rotation of the engine shaft. The member with which the valve is associated is immaterial, so long as these conditions are secured. I have shown the same as mounted upon a vertical shaft 4: which, in the engine illustrated, is used to operate the mechanism by which the fuel is supplied to the engine. This shaft is connected by suitable gears, or other equiva lent mechanisms, to the shaft of the engine. In the particular case shown, this shaft turns at the same rate as the engine shaft.

Mounted to turn with this shaft, but so as to have a limited reciprocation lengthwise of the shaft, is the distributing valve 1. This valve is cylindrical in exterior outline and is mounted to fit closely within a casing 2, which casing also functions as a cylinder within which the valve has a limited reciprocation. As herein shown, the hub of the valve and the shaft 4 are each provided with a key-way in which is placed a key 14, the fit of the valve upon this keyway being sufliciently loose to permit a free movement of the valve lengthwise of the shaft.

The valve 1 has a diaphragm 10 which separates the two ends thereof so as to form separate air receiving and distributing chambers. This diaphragm also connects with the hub 15. As herein shown, this valve isopen at each end and terminates in projecting circular flanges 13, the same being, in effect, continuations of the central body of the valve. At each side of the center of the valve, and communicating, each with its respective chamber, are the two ports 11 and 12. These ports extend in opposite direction from a central axial planeof the valve and constitute the ports through which the air is distributed to the various cylinders of the engine. One of these ports is employed when the engine is to be started in one direction and the other when the on gine is to be started in the opposite direction.

The casing 2, which surrounds the valve, is of su'liicient length to enable the valve to be moved lengthwise of the shaft and casing a sutlicient amount to bring either of the ports 11 and 12 into registry with the same set of distributing ports in the casing. The casing will be centrally provided with a series of distributing ports 20, each adapted for the connection of a pipe thereto, and in number corresponding with the number of engine cylinders to which the air is to be distributed, the number in this case being four.

The casing is provided with two supply ports 22 and 21, each adapted for the connection of a pipe thereto, one being employed for the supply of air to the valve when the engine is to be turned in one direction, and the other for supply of air when the engine is to be turned in the opposite direction. These ports are used alternately and only one at a time.

The casing 2 may be provided with one or more bleed holes 23, located at each side of the center thereoi and adapted, under certain conditions, to discharge air which may have accumulated at the end of the valve which, at that time, is not employed for distributing air to the engine cylinders. The heads of ends 3 of the casing are herein shown as provided with an inwardly projecting boss 30, which has its outer periphery spaced inwardly from the inner periphery of the casing, a sufficient distance to form pockets 32 at each end of the. casing, of such size as to form a snug fit for the ends 13 of the valve. his is for the purpose of forming a dash pot which will assist in checking the movement of the valve when reciprocated for the purpose of reversing its action.

The supply parts 21 and 22 are so located that they register with one or the other ports 11 and 12 when the valve is in one position and with the space beyond the end of the valve at the other end. To insure prompt action of the air in the reverse movement of the valve during such times when the portion of the cylinder opposite the ports 11 or 12, as the case may be, is opposite said port, I provide a small port or passage 2 in the wall of the chamber extending from the ports 21 or 22, as the case may be, to the bottom of the dash pot chambers 32, so that, if the valve is not in position such that the distributing port 11 or 12 is not in engagement with the opposite ports 21 or 22, the air will pass through the small port 24 and get beneath the end of its terminal flanges 13, and thereby start the reciprocation of the valve.

The two pipes 25 and 26, through which air is supplied to the valve casing 2, extend to a reversing valve, 6, located at any convenient point and of any convenient construction which will secure the desired results. This valve is supplied with air through a pipe, as 7, and the valve therein has ports which enable it to connect its supply pipe 7 with either of its discharge pipes 25 and 26. This valve is shown as having a stem 60 to which is attached an operating lever 61, by which it maybe turned to deliver the air to either one of the pipes 25 and 26. Vhen bleed holes 23 are provided in the casing of the distributing valve, this valve 6, may be a common three way valve. If however, a four-way valve be used, in construction such, for instance, as is shown in Fig. 6, the bleed holes 2;) may be omitted and the discharge of air from the end of the valve opposite that. to which the pressure air is applied will be back through pipe 25 or 26, as the case may be and then out through the fourth opening to the free air. For instance, in the position of the valve shown in Fig. 6, the air would be delivered to the distributing valve through the pipe 26 and the air exhausted from the other end of the distributing valve {through the pipe 25. With the valve turned into an intermediate position the air is cut off from the distributing valve.

The operation of my device is' as follows: In the position of the valve, as shown in Fig. 2, the supply nort 22 COlnlTlUniCflliOS with the space at the lower side of the va ve. The air pressure will hold the valve raised or in the position shown. In this position its port 11, which is at the lower side of its center, is in position to register with the various discharge ports 20, each in succession, as the valve is rotated. The position of these various parts is so adjusted that the engine cylinder, with which the port 11 is in communication, has its piston so positioned that air pressure behind the same will start the engine in the direction in which it is desired to have it run. As the valve is turned it will, in succession, deliver air to the other ports and the timing oi? this corresponds with the timing which would be used in a steam engine of a like number of cylinders. The length of time during which air is supplied to each cylinder depends upon the proportions of the ports 11 and the ports 20.

If it be desired to start the engine turning in the opposite direction, the valve 6 is set so as to deliver air to the port 21 at the other end of the casing. The result of this would be that the air gets above the valve and forces the same down, thus bringing the port 12 into register with the distributing ports 20, and this is so placed in an op posite direction from the neutral line, that air will be supplied to the cylinder which is in position to start turning the engine in the other direction. The same distributing pipes 5 which are used for turning the en gine in one direction are used for turning it in the opposite direction.

Should air pressure leak through the space between the sliding surfaces of the valve and the casing and tend to neutralizc the action of the air pressure to hold the valve in one or the other of its set positions, the valve will tend to reverse itself. lVhile this action is one which is seldom likely to occur, I have provided means to care for this. When the four-way valve shown in Fig. 6 is used, the air has a free course to the outside air. When, however, a three-way valve is used, under these conditions I provide the casing of the distributing valve with small bleed holes 23 so located that, shortly after the valve has started on its reversal movement, these bleed holes will be placed in communication with that one of the ports 11 or 12 which at the time is not being used. As a result, the air which has become trapped in this end of the valve casing is discharged and the pressure of air at the other side of the valve immediately brings it back to its proper position. It is believed that the operation of the device may be clearly seen from the above description and needs no more specific description.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An air starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, comprising a rotative air distributing valve mounted to turn in conformity with the engine shaft and to be moved axially and having two discharge ports separated both axially and angularly and adapted to communicate with pipes leading to the respective cylinders, and a supply connection with each end of the valve.

2. An air starting and reversing mechanism for internal combustion engines, c0mprising'anair supply pipe for each cylinder, a rotative valve mounted to turn in conformity with the engine shaft and to be shifted axially and havin two peripheral discharge ports separated both axially and angularly, a valve casing having discharge ports connecting with the cylinder supply pipes and located in succession about the casing in the same zone and an air supply port located, one toward each end, and means for supplying the air to either of said supply ports at will.

3. The combination in an air starting and reversing mechanism for internal combustion engines, of a cylindrical valve mounted to be turned in conformity with the engine rotation and to have a limited axial movechamber into registry with the discharge ports in the casing.

4. The combination, in an air starting and reversing mechanism for internal combustion engines, of a cylindrical valve mounted to be turned in conformity with the engine rotation and to have a limited axial movement, said valve having a transverse, medium partition and open ends and a discharge port in the peripheral wall of each end, said ports extending oppositely from an axial plane, a

casing surrounding said valve and having a discharge port for each engine cylinder, all located in successive spaced relation in the same zone, and two supply ports located in axially separated position at opposite sides of said discharge ports and communicating with the corresponding ends of the valve to shift the same axially to thereby bring the valve port at this end into registry with the discharge ports of the casing, and means for selectively controlling the supply of air to these casing supply ports.

5. In an air starting system for internal combustion engines, in combination, a shaft turned in conformity with the engine shaft, a cylindrical valve secured to turn upon said shaft and to have a limited movement lengthwise thereof, said valve having two axially separated discharge ports extendingin opposite directions from an axial line, a casing closely fitting over the valve and permitting a limited axial movement, and having centrally positioned dischargeports spaced about its periphery and corresponding in number with the number of engine cylinders in which air is to be used for starting, and two inlet ports spaced axially at opposite sides of the discharge ports, the ends of the casing and the ends of the valve having ports coacting as dash pots to check the axial movements of the valve.

6. In an air starting and reversing mechanism for internalcombustion engines, a rotary distributing valve having two axially separated discharge ports adapted each for supplying air to the cylinders to turn the engine in respectively opposite directions, said valve being mounted for axial movement, a casing surrounding the valve and having centrally placed discharge ports distributed about its periphery and two admission ports located toward the ends of the casing, the ends of the casing having annular pockets and the ends of the valves'having two projecting ringflanges adapted to enter said pockets to act as dash .pots.

, 7 In an air distributing valve of the kind described, in combination, a rotative cylindrical valve having a central transverse diaphragm, and a distributing port at each side of the said diaphragm and extending respectively in peripherally 0pp osite directions from an axial. plane, a casing inclosing said, valve and of a length to permit a limited reciprocation of said valve in an axial direction, said casing having distribution ports disposed in a line about it and a supply port at each side of said distribution ports, the axial separation of the supply and distribution ports in the casing substantially corresponding With the axial separation of the distribution ports in the valves and the ends of'the valves beyond its distribution ports being such as to leave the supply port at one end of the easing uncovered when the valve is shifted to the other end of the casing.

8. In an air starting mechanism of the kind described, a rotative cylindrical valve having separate end. chambers and a dis charge port in the peripheral Wall of each chamber, an inclosing casing of a length to permit axial shifting of the valve for reversal of the engine, said casing having centrally placed distributing ports and a supply port at each side of the distributing ports and positioned to be uncovered by the valve when the valve is shifted to the opposite end of its casing, the casing having bleed holes in its side in each direction from its distributing ports placed to be just inward or toward the distributing ports from the inward edge of the discharge ports in the valve When the valve is shifted toward the like end of the casing;

Signed at Seattle Washington, this 16 day of January, 191

HENRY XV. SUMNER.

Copies o thislpatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. (1.v 

